Our views: The People's Agenda

What the polls say about our politics, priorities

Our interest in the Trayvon Martin shooting still surpasses the volume of news coverage. Our businesses plan to hire more, but we still hold the governor accountable for conditions. We like church and politics, but not necessarily mixed. We have supported the troops, but think it's time to prioritize our overseas commitments.

- Matt Reed

Tuned to Trayvon

Nearly one-third of us (30 percent) are following news about the Trayvon Martin shooting more closely than any other story, but interest varies by race and political outlook, a Pew Research Center poll found. Only the Supreme Court hearings on health care accounted for more news coverage last week, Pew reports.

Percentages of Americans who say there's "too much" coverage of the Martin case:

? Total: 30

? White: 43

? Black: 16

? Republican: 56

? Democrat: 25

? Independent: 37

Lukewarm on Scott

Floridians aren't sold on the way Gov. Rick Scott runs Florida, despite his focus on business. But super voters - who haven't missed the last four elections -l ike Scott slightly more.

What all Florida voters think of Scott, according to a Quinnipiac University poll:

? Approve: 36 percent

? Disapprove: 52 percent

? Don't know: 13 percent

What super voters think, according to a Florida Chamber of Commerce poll:

? Approve: 46 percent

? Disapprove: 43 percent

? Undecided: 11 percent

Super voters' top issues are jobs and the economy followed by education and health care, the Chamber poll found. Fortunately for Scott and President Barack Obama, more Florida small businesses plan to hire and fewer plan to fire than in 2011.

Small businesses' hiring outlook for next six months:

? Hire more: 37 percent

? Lay off workers: 3 percent

Sorting religion, politics

Most of us experience more positive emotions during the week (laughter, enjoyment and satisfaction from learning) when we have attended church or temple on the weekend, a Gallup-Healthways survey found. However, we're uneasy mixing religion and politics, Pew found.

The average number of positive emotions Americans report experiencing on a typical Monday, according to frequency of church attendance:

? At least once per week: 3.32

? Almost every week: 3.27

? Once a month: 3.18

? Seldom: 3.08

? Never: 3.01

What we make of politicians' public prayers and expression of religious faith today:

? Too much of it: 38 percent

? Too little: 30 percent

? Right amount: 25 percent

Our opinion on churches' role in politics:

? Keep out of politics: 54 percent

? Express views on social and political matters: 40 percent

World weary

Roughly two-thirds of us want troops to come home from Afghanistan as quickly as possible and oppose new military action in Syria, Pew data show. But Israel and Iran are different matters.

Our take on bombing Syrian forces to protect anti-government groups:

? Favor: 25 percent

? Oppose: 62 percent

Our biggest concern in dealing with Iran's nuclear program:

? U.S. will act too quickly: 34 percent

? U.S. will wait too long: 54 percent

What we make of our relationship with Israel:

? Too supportive: 22 percent

? Not supportive enough: 20 percent

? About right: 46 percent

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Our views: The People's Agenda

Florida Today?s public interest team reads the polls to discern the Space Coast?s takes on Trayvon Martin, Gov. Rick Scott and whether to go to war in Syria and Iran.